In just five short days Ryan and I will board a plane for Central America.
In only four, we will be kissing our tow-headed babes goodbye for yet another week with their grandparents in Michigan.
Ryan and I are traveling to Guatemala with Food for the Hungry August 4-9, and I just keep asking myself:
WHY?
Is it because the precious people of Guatemala need us to be there next week? Maybe. Though I worry about what good, life-changing, Kingdom-building work we can possibly accomplish in just one week and a few, brief exchanges?
Is it because we’ve got a wanderlust that only a trip to a developing country can satisfy? Not really. International travel is brand new to us. And if I’m being very honest, it’s a little scary to us, too!
Is it because we hope that looking on the “misfortune” of others firsthand will make us more grateful for what we have at home? It truly isn’t that either. While we know this trip will absolutely change the way we see things when we return, we aren’t traveling simply to benefit from looking upon the suffering or poverty of others.
I’ve given it a lot of thought, I really have.
When I’ve explained the trip to others – particularly the part about traveling as a blogger to see and then to write – I’ve spouted: “it’s not really a work and witness trip”.
But then, as a Christian, isn’t all of life a work and witness trip?
The more Ryan and I consider the why of our trip, the more we have simply concluded that it is something we have been called to – something to which we cannot say “no”.
We don’t know what The Lord has in store.
We don’t know what we will see or hear or say.
We don’t know how we can be the “aroma of Christ” to a village of hungry people.
Ryan reminded me, though, that in life we are called to point to Christ. And THAT, we have realized, is exactly WHY we are traveling to Guatemala next week.
Whether we are pointing each other, our fellow team members, the amazing people of Guatemala, or any of you sweet friends who follow our trip updates to the One Who created the Earth and everything in it, our simple prayer is that this be “Kingdom come” work, for the glory of Him who died to save every one of us.
Pray for us as we go, friends!
That we would be safe.
That we would see what we need to see,
hear what we need to hear,
and when the timing is right,
that words would flow and that we would say what we need to say.
I so look forward to sharing this journey with you all! I will be blogging (and vlogging!) every day while we’re there, both here and on the SheReadsTruth blog. Ryan and I will be meeting our sponsor child, Olga, face to face, and I will be sharing with you what benefits sponsoring a child can bring to an entire village – “Kingdom come” work in action!
Our team of bloggers will also be participating in a Twitter Party Tuesday, August 6th at 8p EST with the hashtag #FHBloggers. It will be an opportunity to live-chat with us about what we’re experiencing, what is surprising us and exciting us and even scaring and changing us. I hope you’ll hop in and say hello!
“Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.”
Psalm 72:23-26
We have a family member, Jeronimo, who is Guatemalan.. He has many aunts & uncles, and cousins still there, and he & his wife have gone. They sponsor children there. Jeronimo most recently took a break from his job in Hawaii to travel to Uganda and sponsors children there, too.
I’m seeing your post here, right after posting my own thoughts, on the “nourishment of doing.” I’m humbled by the likes of our Jeronimo & you & your husband.
I was simply talking about doing small tasks for & keeping company our 94 year old neighbor. SUCH a smaller scale topic. Yet – it’s what we get from giving, that was on my mind. Anyway, as you can see here, you have caused me to think on that a little bit more late tonight!! Take care and I hope it’s everything you’ve been called to and more.
http://ourfunwithfive.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-nourishment-of-doing.html
I am so excited for you! I think you nailed it when you said it’s something you can’t say no to. I’ll be praying for y’all!
Really can’t wait to keep up with your journey. Blessings to you guys, especially for safe travel. Love!